More than 6,000 Filipino tourists are now stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the Inter-Agency Task Force or IATF’s extended travel ban until August 15 for travelers from the UAE and Oman back to the Philippines.
According to the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, the number of stranded people may increase due to the new extension of the travel ban. In addition, the passenger’s health has been affected as the flight home to the Philippines has been canceled several times.
One of them is Joel Arcala and his wife, who have been stranded for four months.
Arcala and his wife Grace were on their way home to the Philippines on May 16, but they were subjected to a travel restriction. They need to rebook a ticket and renew a tourist visa that expires in September.
They were forced to live with his brother -in -law who lost his job. Joel’s story goes that his wife could no longer sleep mentally. He postponed his check-up with the doctor because it is expensive to see a doctor in the UAE, especially since they are just tourists.
Some 3,724 Filipinos from the UAE have returned to the Philippines on repatriation flights since June.
Filipino tourists stranded in UAE increasing
Six repatriation flights are expected this August for returning Filipinos who fall into the category set by the government.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Embassy, Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and Presidential Communications Operations continue to consult on travel restrictions in the Philippines and repatriation flights.
“Para sa mga kababayan natin na gustong magbakasyon, kung hindi naman ganun ka-urgent ang inyong travel ay ipagpaliban na muna natin. Medyo mahaba-haba rin po ang mga pila (for repatriation flights) konting patience rin po at the same time sana lahat ng kinatatakutan natin ay hindi matuloy and lalong mag-heal at bumuti naman ang ating kalagayan back home in the Philippines.” said Cortes.
Authorities in Manila are on guard because of the Delta variant of the Coronavirus. According to the Department of Health (DOH) report, the Philippines has 216 Delta variant cases out of 97 new cases, six of which are overseas Filipinos.
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